Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

     As noted in last week’s message this month is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and as we today celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, we ponder the mystery of the Holy Eucharist in conjunction with the Sacred Heart.  From the Heart of our Lord, pierced by the soldier’s lance, flowed His precious Blood which was premeditated at the Last Supper.  What began in the Upper Room was consummated on the Cross. Lest we think that this is just a symbolic gesture we remember the words earlier spoken by our Savior; “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you will have no life within you.  How much more emphatic could the Lord be?  In fact, many of the Eucharistic miracles that have been verified by scientific examination testify to the fact that the transubstantiated Eucharist is indeed the heart muscle of the crucified and risen Savior.  Of course we are talking about a mystery and that truth does not involve some gross form of cannibalism but rather Divine, incorruptible and living nourishment for the soul.  Just like the mystery of the Trini. which we contemplated last Sunday we accept what Jesus taught even though our limited minds cannot comprehend it.   Such is the nature of Divine love emanating from the Heart of Christ.

     This is the Treasure of all treasures that our Lord left us.  In partaking of the Holy Eucharist, we pray that He make our hearts like unto His since that after all is what is uniting with our lowly nature.  Are we worthy of such a treasure? No. Are we privileged to receive Him? Yes.  And we make every effort to receive Him reverently and humbly by cleansing our souls through Confession and approaching Him in Communion by a humble bow, extending our tongues or the throne of our hands before our hearts after the affirmation of our Faith in saying audibly “AMEN”

     Today, we especially give witness to our Faith in the Holy Eucharist by our outside procession as we accompany our Eucharistic Lord. This will occur following the 1030 Mass.  Even if you have attended an earlier Mass try to make every effort to join us.

      This month many will be celebrating graduations from various academic institutions.  The parish family of St. John, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Joseph, and St. Bernard extend our best wishes to all graduates with prayers for a blessed future in all your endeavors.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore
You, I love You, and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer You
this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure a
wholly obedient to Your will. Grant good Jesus, that I may live
in You and for You. Protect me in the midst of danger, comfort
me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my
temporal needs, Your blessing on all that I do, and grace of a
holy death.

Merciful Jesus, I consecrate myself today and always to Your
Most Sacred Heart.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore, that I may ever love You
more and more.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust You!
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like Your
Heart

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

    This month has been a time of abundant grace poured upon our parish with the celebration of First Holy Communion, Confirmation and the welcoming of new brothers and sisters into the unity of the Church.  For this we give thanks to God.  Also, thanks must be extended to those who so devotedly offer their time and wisdom in preparing our children and young for the reception of the Sacraments and continuing growth in the Faith.  Our excellent catechists deserve our heartfelt thanks and appreciation. May God bless them for their sacrifices and commitment.

     The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and this year we give special attention to this inestimable devotion by joining in a nationwide Novena to His Sacred Heart.  The Novena begins on June 3rd and culminates in the Solemnity (not a Holy Day of Obligation) on June 12th.  The day prior the Bishops of the United States will consecrate our nation to our Lord’s Sacred Heart placing this land under His protection and guidance.  What a wonderful way to prepare ourselves for the 250th celebration of our nation’s birthday.   

     For those who receive the Catholic Light there is a Novena to join in or you may pray the Novena that is included in this week and next Sunday’s bulletin.

     Soon our children will begin their summer break, and we pray that they will be safe and enjoy vacation time.  Let us remember, of course, that we as faithful disciples of the Lord keep Holy the Lord’s Day by our presence and participation at Holy Mass.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Great Fifty Days are coming to its final celebration with the Solemnity of Pentecost. We are in the days of the Novena to the Holy Spirit and as we have seen the workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of the early Church so too we contemplate His Presence with us now. By the power of the Holy Spirit, (think of the Epiclesis during the Consecration of the Holy Eucharist) this “laying on” of hands by Bishop or priest dispenses the grace which transforms the ordinary into the supernatural. This transference of Divine Power never ceases. That is why we are the Eucharistic Church. Our missionary and evangelical nature stems from the empowering force of the Holy Eucharist. When the Lord Jesus Christ is with us Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity nothing is impossible. Thus, we are motivated to “take on the world” by bringing Christ to the four corners of the earth.

This zeal begins early on in our lives. When we have our First encounter with our Eucharistic Lord something wonderful occurs. Yes, we know that the Risen Lord comes to us in a very special way, but He also enters into the depths of our souls in a way that is indescribable. Such will be the experience of our children who today make their First Holy Communion. We offer them our familial support and prayers as we congratulate them and their parents and catechists. And with equal support and prayers we commend our candidates for Confirmation who will receive the Sacrament next Sunday.

The SPIRIT is a ‘movin’ in Honesdale. May we always be alert and attentive to His Presence.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

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7:25AM and 12:05PM-St. Mary Magdalen

5:30PM-St. Joseph’s, Rileyville

6:00PM-St. Bernard, Beach Lake

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

      This month is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God and happily we began it with our Crowning of the images of our Lady in  our parish churches.  During these days the faithful, in their churches and homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration by the family rosary, shrines within the home, and even welcoming the pilgrim statue of our Lady for a period of time as a means of drawing ever closer to Her and She to us.

      The Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has begun the new creation, restoring the relationship that our first parents had with God before the Fall.  Christ is the new Adam  and His Mother becomes the new Eve, the Mother of all those living now in the Lord.  How privileged we are to have a Redeemer Who mindful of our need for motherly affection gave Mary to us all in the personage of the young Apostle St. John.  It is no wonder that he is referred to as the “beloved disciple”  since he received the august honor of caring for Mary throughout the course of Her earthly life.  Now, of course, Mary our Mother cares for us even if we are not aware of Her abiding presence and love.  Surely, we can always go directly to God with our problems and needs but going to God through Mary gives that human touch which comforts our troubled hearts.  What child does not go running first to Mama with a scraped knee or bruised spirit.  She always understands, no more than God Himself, but now with that added balm of a mother’s tenderness.

      Take time during this special month to draw closer to Mother Mary and enjoy the graces She brings you from Her Risen Son.

With Blessings,

Father Langan

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 We have been reading from the Acts of the Apostles during the post-Pentecost season and can see how under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit the structure of the Church is taking shape.  The Apostles, very much aware of their duty and responsibility to shepherd and guide the infant Church, prayerfully respond to the particular needs of individuals and the various communities of disciple, both Jew and Gentile.  The power entrusted to them is now passed on to the first order of the Priesthood by the creation of deacons (diakonia-service) who will share some of the power, though not all, in order to bring care to those in need and share in the mission of evangelizing the world.  In today’s Reading we hear of their service to the poor and in time their duties will be expanded to preaching the Gospel, Baptizing, witnessing marriages, burying the dead and ,of course, assisting at the Altar.  Over the course of time further duties are entrusted to them in regards to church administration.

      Deacons are not empowered to offer Mass, hear confessions and absolve from sin, Confirm, and anoint the sick.  These are reserved for the order of Presbyters, or priests.   With the Presbyterate bishops ordain men as an extension of themselves with the same sacramental authority with the exception of the power to Ordain.  This tri-level hierarchy is the Holy Spirit’s design for serving the Church.  The term hierarchy has often been misrepresented in today’s lexicon.  The Greek word “hieros” means priest and so it properly refers to the levels of Priesthood Not secular levels of powerbroking.

      This reminds us to be always aware to carefully use the words we speak in their proper context and not according to the misappropriated trends of the day.

With Blessings,

Father Langan